Viewing and illuminating device for divers&#39; helmets



A. BARNA 2,481,808

VIEWING AND ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR DIVERS HELMETS Sept. 13, 1949.

- 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1944 A. BARNA Sept. 13, 1949.

VIEWING AND ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR DIVERS HELMETS Filed Dec. 15, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz/enforfizggewfiarm Sept. 13, 1949. A. BARNA 2,481,808

VIEWING AND ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR DIVERS HELMETS Filed Dec. 15, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet 3 s5 77 so as as 64-69 '1 '75 75 7/ Patented Sept. 13, 1949VIEWING D ILEUMINATING DEVICE FUR" DIVERS HELMETS Andrew Barna, SouthChicago, Ill.

Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 5.685380 3 Claims.

This invention relates: to improvements in divers helmets and itspurpose is to provide animproved underwater helmet adapted to beworn by"a diver when carrying on welding operations under water with the use. ofa welding torch.

Welding operations have heretofore been carried on underwater butin arather unsatisfactory manner because of" the" deficiencies of thediversequipment. The usual divershelmet employed for the purposeequipped with colored glass to enable the diver to look at the torchflame while welding but this colored lens has interfered with his visionwhen looking around in the dark water toiocate-the work after beinglowered from thesurface; A further disad'varrtagehas 'been that thediver hasbeen compelled to feel his way" while welding Because the steamproduced by the torch in the water has caused such anow of bubbles-as too'hscu're' his vision of the sit'eof the weld; While has been'possiblefor a diverto feel his-way with some success whenwelding a l'ap" jointbecause of the guiding shoulder formed by the overlap; it hasbeenimpossible for adivert-'0- weld satisfactorily a butt joint,- suc'h asthalt presented by a crack in thehulb or a-sunlteir vessel; for example,because of' his inability to= follow the crackwith the torch;

The principal object of the present invention isto" overcome the abovementioned difii'culties, andothers; by'provi'dihg an attachment for adivers helmet whereby there is created a-- strong current away from-thehelmet and" beyond the place of welding; therehy insuringagainst thepres'enceof bubbles; steam and=sparhs which tend to-ob'scure the'vision.H-f-urther object is to provide a helmet having a-cle'argl'ass lensthroughwhichthe-divermay-view his-surroundingsunder water whilelocating-the work, in combination with a helmet extension or attachmentwhich may then be sw-ung into' po'siti'om to permit the diver to*look'through a*- colored' lens while working: Another'ob'jeet is-to proviiieadevice adapted" to-'he"-' attached" the diver-s helmet for use inunderwater welding and including means for illumihatihgthe-siteofithewem A-fi1rther object is to provide an attachment, capableof being applied to any divers helmeflto" cause jets ofwater to clearthe vision of thediver" at the site'- of the-'weldi Stillanother'object" is to provide a divers helmet having: a tubularextension equipped witha ground glass magnifying lens whichmaybeadjusted lon'gitudinallyof its focal aXiS'f togive the diver propervision" of the work during welding.

7 and which has mounted" therein a-co'lored glass plate through which tl1e' weldi'n'goperation may be viewed, the mouth of the extension havingmounted around it a no'z'zle'arianged to project jetsof water underressure: paths defining acone, thereby causing the sparks, steam andbubbles to be carried hythe'jets out o'f the coneshaped area enclosed'by the'j'et's, therebyprovid ing a clear working area;- in whichwelding operations may be carried" on, thisiwelding region beingpreferably illumin'ated' by lamps mounted on the tubular extensiomA-niagni-f ying lensis' preferabl'y ad giustably mounted in" thetubular. attachm'ent-to permit the diverto'obta-iii a better View of thework.

These and other objects. of. the invention will appear more clearly fromthe" following specification taken with the accompanying drawings inwhich one embodiment of the invention is illus tratedi In: the drawings,

Figure 1 shows": a. side elevation of a1 divershelmet embodying theimprovementsof 'thepresent' invention;

Fi'g-.- 2' shows-lawsectional view taken. on'the line 2-2 of Figs. 1and: 5;

Fig; 3shows an enlargedtsectional view taken on the line 3*-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 4 shows an enlarged front elevation:v of the divers helmettshownint Eig.- 1:; and

Fig; 5 shows a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 55ofFi'g; 4.

As illustrated in the drawings", the improvedattachment oftheinvention'is appliedttoatdivers outfit" comprising a body: portion;to: having a top flange Hi upon which thereiis seated at rubber gasketH, this gasket; beingr'int'erpos'ed? be-' tween the flange HP and theflange I2 or the helmet l2. The flange" It" extends outwardly from theneck portion l2 of 'the helmet and is secured to the flange: lfl ofthe-body portion by a series of studs l'3i The helmet I2 is-prov'id'ed atits-top with an' i'nlet l2" adapted to be conformed on the inside on theflange I2 and being engaged on its outer side by a rubber gasket IT. Ametal ring I8 engages the outer side of the gasket I1 and these partsare secured to the flange I2 of the helmet by means of a series ofscrews I9. These parts correspond to those commonly used in divershelmets except that the lens I 6 is formed as clear glass to facilitatethe divers view of his surroundings after he has been lowered from thesurface and during the time that he is walking about on the bottom ofthe sea, lake or waterway in which he is working, in the process ofsearching for the place where the welding operations are to be eflected.

The present invention provides an attachment comprising a tubular helmetextension 29 which is mounted on the forward face of the helmet I2opposite the outlet opening I2 being supported on its upper side by apair of hinges 2I which are secured to the tubular extension and to thewall of the helmet, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 5. The tubularextension 20 is formed preferably of molded plastic insulating materialor of metal covered with insulating material, such a rubber, and it isprovided around its inner open end with an annular flange 22, formed ofrubber or the like, which is adapted to seat against the curved end faceof the helmet I2 when the tubular extension 20 is in its normalhorizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, thus forming a resilientconnection between the helmet I2 and th tubular extension 20. When thetubular extension 20 is in its horizontal position just referred to, theannular rubber flange 22 which projects outwardly therefrom, and whichconforms to the surface of the helmet I2, is adapted to be engagedbeneath the tubular extension by a leaf spring 23 which is secured tothe helmet I2 by rivets 24 and which has a, curved extremity 23 adaptedto permit the flange 22 to be snapped inwardly under the spring when thetubular extension 20 is swung downwardly from the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 1. This tubular extension is adapted to contain aground colored lens and to support the illuminating apparatus and thewater jet device by which the steam, bubbles and sparks are carried outof the field of operations, and, during the time that the diver iswalking about on the bottom searching for the field of work, thisattachment 20 occupies the upper tilted position shown by dotted linesin Fig. l, but, when he is ready to begin the welding operation, theattachment 20 is lowered to the position shown by full lines in Figs. 1and 5, whereupon the flange 22 snaps into position beneath the springlatch member 23, and the parts are retained in these positions until thewelding is completed.

The tubular extension 20 is provided at its rear end, adjacent theoutlet I2 of the helmet I2, with an annular inwardly extending shoulder20 provided with an annular inwardly extending flange 20 and a lens orglass plate 25 is mounted within the shoulder 20 and against the flange20 being held in fluid tight engagement therewith by rubber gaskets 26.A metal ring 2'! seats within the shoulder 21! against the innermostgasket 26 and thi ring and the gaskets are secured to the flange 2|] bya series of screws 28. The plate or lens 25 is preferably formed ofclear glass and, by means of the construction just described, a fluidtight connection is provided between it and the wall of the tubularextension 20, so that any moisture which flinds its way into the spacebetween the lens I6 and the lens 25 cannot enter the inner chamber ofthe tubular extension.

Within this inner chamber there is mounted a ground glass magnifyinglens 30, which is formed preferably of plain clear glass and which iscarried by a lens frame 3I. This lens frame is circular in form and isadapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the focal axis of the lens 30through the operation of adjusting screws 32 which have threadedengagement with apertures formed in opposite sides of the frame M andwhich rotatably engage apertures formed in the annular shoulder 2|) atthe rear end of the extension 20. These adjusting screws 32 are providedwth heads 32 adapted to be engaged by a screwdriver, which areaccessible to the operator when the tubular extension 20 has been swungupwardly to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that theoperator may then employ a screwdriver for adjusting the longitudinalposition of the lens 30 within the chamber of the tubular extension. Theopposite or forward ends of the adjusting screws 32 are arranged to haverotatable engagement with apertures formed in a metal ring 33 and theadjusting screws are provided with detachable heads 32 which revolve inrecesses formed in the ring 33, whereby the adjusting screws are heldagainst endwise movement when they are turned about their axes, th ring33 being secured to another ring 34 which contacts its forward face andwhich is secured in position within the extension 20 by screws 35. Theframe 3I carrying the lens 30 and the two rings 33 and 34 are insertedinto the tubular extension 20 from the forward end thereof and after theadjusting screws 32 have been moved into engagement with the ring 33 andthe heads 32 hav been applied, the two rings 33 and 34 are securedtogether and the screws 35 are then inserted to secure the ring 34 inplace. i

A channel-shaped rubber insulating ring 39, carrying a colored glassplate 40 and a clear glass plate 43 within its channel, is mounted onthe forward side of the ring 34 and a ring 4I, having radialperforations 4| extending therethrough, seats against the forwardsurface of the insulating ring 39. The rings 39 and M are secured to thering 34 by means of a series of screws 42. When these screws aretightened, the insulating ring 39 i compressed longitudinally of theaxis of the extension 20 and i expanded in a radial direction so that afluid tight connection is thereby established between the ring 34 andthe tubular extension 20. The ring 4| is provided with a plurality ofradiating cylindrical apertures 4 I which are arranged to register witha series of apertures 2!) formed in the tubular extension 20, for apurpose hereinafter described. The two plate 40 and 43 are both employedso that the plate 43 may be made thick enough to withstand the waterpressure while the inner colored plate 40 may be made comparativelythin.

Air under pressure is introduced into the chamber of the tubularextension 20 through a flexible conduit 44 leading from the interior ofthe helmet I2 and a check valve 45 is connected in this conduit close tothe helmet I2 to prevent water from entering the helmet I2 in case theconduit 44 or the extension 2|) is broken. The purpose of introducingair under pressure into the chamber of the attachment is to balance thewater pressure on its outer side sufficiently to prevent collapse of thetubular extension or the lenses when operating in substantial depths ofwater. An adjustable release valve 46 is mounted in the wall of theattachment 20 to relieve the air pressure in the inner chamber if itrises to an undue extent. If desired, the conduit 44 may lead fromthewater surface directly into the extension 20, but the, arrangementshown, is preterablebecause it is desirable to limit, asfar as,possible, the number of connections, extending to ,thesurface.

At the forward end of the tubular extension 20 a ring-shaped nozzle 50is secured against the outer faceot the ring 4| and. water under pressurisisupplied to this nozzle through suitable connections; comprising anelbow; 5|, a; flexible hose 0,1 conduit 52, a hinged joint connection53, a. value-154, and a supply conduit 55. The water whiehis thusintroduced underpressure into. the nozzlel50 isdischarged throughaSGIlGSvOf small openings 5,0? to form an annular; series oi}outwardlyyconyerging jets, the apex of which :10 cated at the; point 56.Thesejets, thus: definea cone-shaped: area or region from whichthe lakeor sea water. is carried outwardly by direct action: or: by. suction,together'with the steam, bubbles and-sparks produced by the weldingoperation, sothat-all elementsstendingto obstructthc vision are removedfrom this region 51;: between the apex 55 ithecone. andtheiace of theglass lens 40. The water jets may produce a partial vacuumiin theimmediate vicinity of the lens 416;.

Th res lt; thus obtained may be, regulated: by the diver through theadjustment of the valve 54. In Fig. 5, this Welding zone is shown asbeing within but near the apex of the cone-shaped cavity where twoplates 59 and 60 are shown as contacting along the surfaces 6| which areto be united by a butt weld. The torch thus operates in an area which issubstantially free of steam, bubbles, sparks and the like, so that thevision of the diver is unobstructed during the welding operation. Byproperly adjusting the position of the ground glass lens 30longitudinally of the tubular extension 20, the area where the weld isto be made may be magnified as desired to suit the eyes of the diver andthe character of the Work being done.

To improve the divers view of the work within the cone-shaped cavity,the region where the weld is to take place is preferably illuminated bya series of lamps 63 which are mounted around the forward end of thetubular helmet extension 20. Each lamp comprises a tube 64 havingmounted in the forward end thereof an insulating ring 65 in which thereis secured an electric light bulb 66. Each tube 64 has an inclinedforward end face against which there is mounted a glass lens or plate 61secured in place by a metal ring 68 having a threaded engagement withthe end of the tube. Each lamp bulb 66 may be energized by a pair offlashlight batteries 69 which are mounted within the tube 64 andconnected in series, these batteries being pressed against the base ofthe bulb 66 by a coil spring 10. When the operator does not desire toemploy the batteries 69, they may be disconnected and the lampsenergized by electrical conductors contained in cables H which extend tothe surface of the water and are controlled by one or more electricswitches 12. These electric cables lead into the tubes 64 throughinsulating plates 13 and metal plates 15 which are secured to the rearends of the tubes 64 by screws 16. The closures for the tubes 64 shouldbe fluid tight so that water will not disturbe any parts of theelectrical connections.

The electric lamps 63 are carried by a pair of metal rings 11 which areclamped on the forward end portion of the tubular extension by means ofset screws 18. These rings are provided with aligning apertures: inwhich the tubes; 64;, are mountech and the tubes are; held in adjustedD0511: tio-ns witn-respect-v to the; rings. by set screws 60* whichmaybe released to permit the: lamps; to -be, adjusted: longitudinallyfor the purpose of vary ingthe position of't-hepoint .on. which the:lightrays are concentrated. For. the purpose of: dierecting the lightraysfrom. the bulb; 56 toward a common point-,each-tube 64$ isprovided-with a reflector: 8t located-above the electric bulb. andbehindithe: g-lassplate or: lens 6:! son-that the; light rays 82 emitted'bys each bulb 66 are directed downwardlyand: forwardly to, converge at"and rearwardly of therear surfaces of the. plates: 5291-. and liflzwlnch-are tube-welded. Inthis wayvthe. interior or the cone-shaped'area inwhich the welding takes placev illuminated sothat the crack 6| in-theplates is clearly visible: to the operator of the welding torch,

Duringthe welding operation, the" water around: the-forward end of thetubular extension 26 and the site of thewel'd; which water is heated bythe welding-torch, is drawn inwardly through the apertures 26*- in' theextension 26' and: the: registering apertures 41s inthe-- ring by thesuction oithe jets discharged by the nozzle 50, and is then carriedf-orwardlybythe jets so that the water heated by the torch is circulatedcontinually and h11ought, to the site of the weld to heat the parts'tobe welded, thus faciliat sz the-w ngioperationr When the weldingoperation has been com-.7 pleted, the valve 54 may be operated to shutoff the flow of water and the switch or switches 12 may be actuated todeenergize the lamps 63, whereupon the tubular extension 20 and theparts carried thereby may be swung upwardly to the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 1, During this operation, the hinged joint 53 inthe water connection permits the upward movement of the flexible conduit52. The operator is then enabled to look through the clear glass lens ISin the helmet l2 as he moves away from the place where the Weldingoperation has been effected.

From the foregoin description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an attachment for a divers helmet which permits thediver to move about at the bottom of the body of water where he is tocarry on his welding operations, with the tubular extension 20 thenelevated so that a clear vision of the divers surroundings may beobtained through the clear glass lens I6. When the Work to be welded hasbeen located, and the diver is prepared to begin the welding operation,the helmet extension 26 may be swung downwardly to permit the rubberring 22 to be automatically latched by the spring 23, whereupon thetubular extension 20 is held firmly in position and the operator maythen look through the lenses 25, 30 and 46 to view the operation of thewelding torch without danger of injuring his eyes, while at the sametime obtaining a clear vision of the work due to the operation of thelamps 63 to the fact that the steam, bubbles and sparks have beencarried by the jets of water out of the area of the welding operation,and to the further fact that the parts to be welded are magnified by thelens 30.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by wayof illustration, it will be understood that the invention may beconstructed in various other embodiments coming within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a divers 7 helmet constructed andmounted to form a water tight closure for the head of the diver andhaving an outlet opening, a lens mounted over said opening, and meansfor causing jets of water under pressure to form an area opposite saidlens which is substantially free of vision obstructing elements whensaid helmet is submerged and welding operations are carried on in saidspace.

2. An attachment for a divers helmet constructed and mounted to form awater tight closure for the head of the diver and having an outletopening, comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted on saidhelmet around said opening, and means including a circular nozzlecarried by said member for ejecting jets of water away from the mouth ofsaid member when said member is submerged.

3. An attachment for a divers helmet constructed and mounted to form awater tight closure for the head of the diver and having an opening,comprising a tubular extension adapted to extend outwardly from saidopening, a lens mounted in said extension, and means including a. nozzlemounted on said extension for directing outwardly coverging jets ofliquid under pressure away from the outer end of said. extension whensaid extension is submerged.

' ANDREW BARNA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bennum May 9, 1899Drager Oct. 2'7, 1908 Cummings Sept. 9, 1913 Macrini Nov. 18, 1913 MoranApr. 17, 1914 Work Nov. 21, 1916 Steinmetz Apr. 10, 1917 Harney Feb. 24,1920 Mickelson Nov. 2, 1920 Deam May 10, 1921 Mahon Nov. 15, 1932 ArnoldJan. 29, 1935 Rosenberger Apr. 30, 1935 Richter June 30, 1936 BowersSept. 22, 1936 Hagen Jan. 16, 1940 Andrews Nov. 18, 1941 Anderson Jan.13, 1942 Bausch Sept. 5, 1944 Huntsman Nov. 21, 1944 Stegeman Feb. 20,1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov, 11, 1924,

